IDEATION project empowers students to break barriers in education and entrepreneurship. In a groundbreaking achievement, the IDEATION project at the University of La Laguna has played a pivotal role in inspiring and training a group of students to make history as the first team from a Canarian university to participate in UNIRAID 2024. The initiative, known as ULLRAID, not only achieved the milestone of providing humanitarian aid to Morocco but also addressed the crucial issue of practical experiences in university education

The IDEATION project, dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, contributed significantly to the revival of the University of La Laguna’s crowdfunding project. Through this support, a group of ULL students successfully developed an idea that originated from IDEATION’s International Open Innovation Training.  

ULLRAID, born as a solidarity initiative during the IOI Training 2022, is set to embark on a 9-day adventure through the Moroccan desert in cars over two decades old. Comprising Mechanical Engineering students David Tort, Pablo Rodríguez, and Sergio de la Rosa, along with Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering student Hugo Aguiar, the ULLRAID team aims to deliver 40 kg of solidarity material to desert schools, marking the 13th edition of UNIRAID in February 2024.

The initiative goes beyond being a mere journey through the desert; it represents a transformative opportunity for higher education. During the IOI Training, ULLRAID identified a fundamental issue in university education—the lack of practical experiences in the curriculum and a decrease in student motivation. Their response was to merge academic knowledge with a passion for social service, using the preparation of the vehicle and the delivery of solidarity aid as a canvas to apply what they had learned in their degrees in a practical way.  

With the support received through crowdfunding, ULLRAID not only became the first Canarian team to participate in UNIRAID but also addressed the issue of practical experiences in university education. The success story showcases how IDEATION’s commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship has a profound impact, demonstrating that education can be both exciting and meaningful. 

The ULLRAID team’s journey stands as an inspiration, not only for breaking barriers in education but also for contributing to solidarity and development through innovation. Their commitment to sustainable projects created by students has set a precedent for future editions of UNIRAID, and showcasing the power of our project IDEATION in transforming academic disciplines into stimulating and meaningful experiences.